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Red Ladbrokes logo with stylized L on a white background.
The NHS logo, with its bold white letters on a blue rectangular background, stands as a symbol of reliable service much like the connectivity provided by business VoIP phones.
Red circle with the text Little Kickers written in white, resembling a business phone and broadband logo.
Logo featuring a stylized badger face with the text
Blue speech bubble with the words citizens advice in white lowercase letters, offering guidance on business VoIP phones for seamless communication.
Red and white blocks displaying the letters C, E, and F in a 3D style evoke a sleek modernity akin to cutting-edge business VoIP phones.
The Blue cursive logo text reads
The Barracuda logo showcases a sleek, stylized blue fin alongside the word Barracuda in gray text, symbolizing innovation and connectivity, much like advanced business VoIP phones.

So, what exactly is being switched off and how does it affect me?

For many years the United Kingdom has successfully operated using copper wire technology to host our phone calls. This comes in the form of ISDN & PSTN, both of which will soon be switched off entirely.

Once September 2023 rolls around (The Stop Sell) you will no longer be able to attain any new lines based on copper wire for your business, meaning the new starter you just hired isn’t going to have a phone, unless you make the move over to a VoIP System. It doesn’t just stop at your phones though it includes everything on the network such as CCTV, Security Alarms, and a whole host of other devices. To check what areas are due to be switched off next, click here.

Man with glasses looking up thoughtfully against a pink background, wearing a denim shirt and clasping hands together, as if pondering the upcoming ISDN switch-off.

When is it actually going to happen?

The Stop Sell date for the UK is September 2023, with the entire network due to be completely switched off in 2025, which will also include any phone lines that are still operating on the copper wire technology.

This will have a huge impact on business’ as their telephone lines will stop working which could also result in the loss of the business phone number. It has been reported that over one million business’ in the UK need to switch before 2025 so expect increased demand closer to the time. We would recommend switching before the rush.

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Is it going to hurt my bank balance?

VoIP Phone Systems are often a lot more competitively priced in comparison to traditional copper line phones. They are hosted using an internet connection only. Meaning you can get rid of a lot of the costs associated with phone connectivity.

A man in a yellow shirt stands against a bright yellow background, holding a smartphone and credit card, looking excited about the ISDN Switch Off.

Why does the network even need to be switched off anyway?

The network itself was launched in the 1980’s and remained almost completely unchanged since, meaning it’s almost 40 years old!

At the time it was a breakthrough in communication allowing businesses to not only communicate with voice but also it will facilitate the capacity for flawless video communication and transmission of other forms of data as well.

Now we’re not saying there’s anything wrong with being 40 but in this example, the network is falling short of meeting the needs of business’ all these decades on, hence the need for The ISDN Switch Off. No longer can copper wire keep up with the rapid expansion of data consumption in the 21st century and as such Voice Over Internet Protocol was born.

VoIP Technology has been widely adopted for more than 10 years in the UK and will soon be the way the whole country communicates.

Don’t just take our word for it. To see what the BBC had to say about VoIP Technologies, click here.

A person with long red hair and glasses, wearing a yellow sweater, stands against a purple background, contemplating the upcoming ISDN switch off with a hand on their chin.

Okay, I’m starting to get it… But what do I need to replace it with?

You’ll need to switch over to a cloud telephone system. This is something that can be easily handled for you, using a provider such as B4BC, however the further in advance you do it, the better.

Leading up to the ISDN Switch off taking place a large number of organisations will be rushing to switch to a VoIP service to save their phone lines, which could easily create large delays across the country. Save yourself the hassle, get ahead of the digital stampede and get switched over as soon as you can.

Alright, what do I need to do for my business to be ready for the switch off?

BT is no longer accepting new ISDN/PSTN orders, so you’ll need to look at upgrading to a hosted PBX or VoIP system. This will bring a whole host of benefits to business’ across the UK including substantially lower upfront costs and far superior flexibility for growing organisations. It never hurts to be prepared, so speak to one of our experienced ISDN migration specialists today.

A man in an orange shirt and glasses stands against a green background, touching his chin thoughtfully, pondering the upcoming ISDN switch-off.

Could I lose my telephone number?

If you are still on an ISDN line when your local circuit is switched off then yes. Your number would go back into a pool of available numbers and you wouldn’t be able to retrieve it. Thankfully you have a lot of time to avoid that happening by making the switch before the cut-off date and porting your numbers to a VoIP Service. This may sound a little confusing but all of this can be handled in-house by our experienced telecommunication specialist.

A person in a blue beanie and sweater, resembling the surprise of an ISDN switch-off, shrugs with both hands up, emerging through a torn paper wall.

What happens if my broadband goes down?

As with all technology, there will come a time when it no longer performs exactly how you want it to and this goes for ISDN/PSTN lines too! Thankfully with cloud-based phones, you can protect yourself from these outages with 4G/5G back up routers, keeping your team operational 24/7 365.

A huge improvement on the days of having to wait for an engineer, finding out the problem is off site and having to wait days for it to be rectified. The ISDN Switch Off isn’t something to be viewed in a negative light it is a pivotal innovation in the telecommunication space.

Woman with curly hair and orange earrings pondering the upcoming ISDN switch off, wearing a striped orange and blue sweater against a blue background.

Can I make changes to my existing setup?

Unfortunately, if you are still on ISDN or PSTN lines you will not be able to add any new lines to your system. The whole of the UK is in a Stop Sell in line with the ISDN Switch Off in 2025.

A woman in a denim shirt and glasses smiles and points to the side against a pink background, subtly hinting at the upcoming ISDN Switch Off.

Okay, so the ISDN Switch Off is looming do I do if I don’t have fibre in my area?

We get this question a lot and thankfully for you, we have many cost effective solutions to work around this. As a reseller of broadband, we have access to wholesale broadband providers that you simply can not find yourself as a business. We have helped hundreds of businesses overcome a hurdle they previously thought just wasn’t possible and we’re on standby to do the same for you. As with everything ISDN Switch Off, the sooner it’s done, the better.

A man in a red sweatshirt and glasses stands against a pink background, making an OK hand gesture, signifying his approval of the ISDN switch-off transition.

Why “I’m just going to wait” isn’t the best idea…

We get it, you’re busy.. phoning providers up and down the country to sort out your telephones probably isn’t high on your list of things to do, if you’re not aware of the potential impacts. But at the moment none of us really have a choice if we want to protect our phone lines from the ISDN Switch Off.

Whilst you do still have time if you leave it to the last minute you may find you’re competing for engineers and facing higher prices. Hopefully, this has covered everything you need to know but if you require further information, click here.

Man with glasses and beard confidently crosses his arms, subtly pointing in opposite directions, as if pondering the upcoming ISDN Switch Off. He wears a light blue shirt against a plain background.

Best 4 Business Communications

Address

‍2235-2243 Coventry Rd, Sheldon, Birmingham, B26 3NW

Phone Number:

03333 66 3333